MY TURN: Turn mourning into action: Young people need help
Another time to mourn. Two firefighters responding to a brush fire at Coeur d’Alene’s Canfield Mountain were shot dead, and a third badly injured. As the horror unfolded, we learned that the shooter started the fire to draw in the unsuspecting responders and later died of a self-inflicted wound. More troubling is the news that the perpetrator was a 20-year-old male.
We may never know the motives of this individual, but what we do know is that a very young person at the beginning of his life was consumed by rage and went down a dark path. And once again, we’re pressed with the hard question, why?
Within the forests of the Pacific Northwest lurks a generous share of far-right extremists and white nationalists, and North Idaho has drawn the spotlight too many times. Given this history, national media immediately jumped to portray the incident as potential terrorism or perhaps another saga of North Idaho lawlessness and white supremacy. But while extremist voices in the inland Northwest are spinning this event in ways that are politically motivated, focus should remain on the perilous journey of this young person and others like him.
Before a 20-year-old man lights a fire to execute firefighters, there is a younger boy who was drawn into this violent trajectory. Is it mental illness, family dynamics, bullying or something else?
What we do know is that many young people today feel hopeless, neglected and unloved. When young people are lonely and isolated, they become vulnerable to unhealthy alliances in the form of a substitute “family” that offers a connection they have not found elsewhere. Once absorbed into a group that uses hate and violence to secure loyalty, a young person is more likely to become part of yesterday’s headlines.
We must be mindful that the sheltered years of the COVID epidemic transformed the lives of young people in unprecedented ways. They were deprived of social time with friends, and normal rights-of-passage such as graduation ceremonies and public acknowledgement.
Some young adults say they feel disenfranchised, the critical pieces of their growing up years forever lost. Adding to the mix was a slow economic recovery and shifting employment options that created anxieties older adults never had to bear. Social media, while exposing youth to vast amounts of information, can feed isolation and create echo chambers where bullying takes root and fragile self esteem can be toppled with a photo.
We need to recognize that our youth are struggling. The U.S. Surgeon General has identified the “epidemic of loneliness” as a critical driver of mental health crises and community harm.
In short: When young people feel like they belong, they are less likely to cause harm. To themselves or our communities. More than ever we must address the root causes, like social isolation, lack of purpose and community disconnection, before the harm is unleashed. This is accomplished by listening to young people, building spaces where they can thrive and supporting the adults who care for them.
As we gather for Fourth of July barbecues and fireworks, let’s pay attention to our young people. Be aware of isolated individuals, talk to them, ask questions, show interest. Give them space to talk about this tragedy. Invite them into conversations that matter.
Let them know they don’t have to have it all figured out to be loved, accepted and valued. These small moments of presence can be life changing. When young people feel genuinely seen and supported, they are more likely to ask for help, to take healthy risks and to reject harmful paths.
Belonging isn’t created through one conversation, it’s built through a culture of care, consistency and inclusion. Each of us has the power to contribute to that culture, starting now, right where we are.
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Lauren McCroskey is with Idaho for All.